Card punching machines of the setup type



6 Sheets-Sheer, 1

R. B. ,JOHN$ON ET AL CARD PUNCHING MACHINES OF THE SETUP TYPE May 21,1957 Filed Dec. 9, 1954 May 21, 1957 R. B. JOHNSON Ei' AL INvENb.REYNOLD B. JOHNSON BY ROBER 44a!- 1k. GOODMAN ATTORNEY FIG..1c|

May 21, 1957 R. B. JOHNSON ETAL 2,792,892

CARD PUNCHING MACHINES OF THE: SETUP TYPE Filed Dec. 9, 1954 6Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 2

INVENTORS REYNOLD B. JOHNSON BY ROBERT C.GOODMAN ATTORNEY 1, 1957 R. B.JOHNSON ET AL CARD PUNCHING MACHINES OF THE SETUP TYPE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed Dec. 9, 1954 S m T m V m REYNOLD B. JOHNSON F I G 3 BY ROBERT C.GOODMAN ATTORNEY May 21, 1957 R. B. JOHNSON ET AL CARD PUNCHING MACHINESOF THE SETUP TYPE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 9, 1954 FIG 4 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE QEEQEEEEEEE mmmmm m gmm EEHEEEEEEEHE mmmmm m FIG.5

ATTORNEY May 2 l; 1957 R, B. JOHNSON ET AL 2, ,3

CARD PUNCHING MACHINES OF THE SETUP TYPE Filed Dec. 9, 1954 6Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG.6

INVENTQRS REYNOLD B. JOHNSON ROB TC. GQODMAN ATTORNEY United StatesPatent "9 CARD PUNCHING MACHINES OF THE SETUP TYPE Reynold B. Johnson,Palo Alto, Calif., and Robert C.

Goodman, Binghamton, N. Y., assignors to International Business MachinesCorporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationDecember 9, 1954, Serial No. 474,119

12 Claims. (Cl. 164-115) This invention relates to card punchingmechanisms and more particularly to the type which is adapted as aresult of a preceding punch selection, to punch a card concurrently in aplurality of columns. Such forms of punches are known to punch a card ina relatively short time and have been known as gangpunches orinstantaneous type.

While such forms of punch have with respect to their speed in cardpunching taken very little time the overall output has been relativelylow because of the time taken to efifect a prior selection or setup ofthe desired punches.

It is, therefore, the main object of the invention to shorten relativelythe time necessary to effect the punch selection so that the machinemay, in reality, becalled a high speed punch. By high speed is meantpunching of cards considerably above the present practice of 100- 150cards per minute and attain a speed of 400 CPM, .and as high as 1500CPM. The improvements are shown in a form of machine adapted to gangpunch 80 columns, with twelve positions per column to punch a well knownform of statistical card, although with obvious modifications otherforms of cards, tape or records may be punched with equal advantages.

The main object of the present invention is to devise a high speed punchutilizing punch components requiring light and small movements for punchoperations and embodying a novel device for selecting punches in thecomponents which require a minimum of time and light action for punchselection.

A further object of the present invention is to devise a low cost highspeed punch, obtained through novel design of constructions utilizinglight weight components, and new methods of fabricating the die, punchcomponents and punch selecting components.

An object of the invention is to devise a punch component or unit madeup of like identical units in which each punch unit carries a pluralityof punches and overlying interposers for punching a single row or columnor" a card, and in which a plurality of such units form a unitary punchunit for punching a plurality of rows or columns of a card concurrently.

A still further object of the invention is to have a punch operatingbail aside of each unit and so arranged that it will not cause the unitto exceed the limiting dimensions between adjacent rows or columns, andwherein said bail is adapted to actuate selected punches through theeffective interpcsers and positively restore them in their related guideslots.

Another object related to the operation of the punches is to provide areciprocable die receiving said actuated punches and which is initiallyraised to clamp the card to be punched against said punch unit when thepunch bails actuate selected punches.

A still further object is to arrange in separate vertical channels of astrip a punch and an overlying interposer which latter is so formed andarranged in the channel 2,792,892 Patented May 21, 1957 that it may berocked withoutthe use of a pin pivot to interpose an extensionunderneath a punch bail.

A still further object is to provide punch selecting components or unitsin the form of strips which are substantially the thickness of a columnof a card and tearrange such strips transversely with respect to thepunch units in order that selecting wires in grooves in a strip may beprojected to select associated interposers for actuation.

Another object is to effect the projection of "said wires selectivelyadjacent said interposers and to'provide common bail means to rock saidprojected wires and associated interposers-tor engagement with the punchbail.

Another object is to devise a punch setup unit inthe form of a thinwafer or strip provided with guide channels in which liepunch selectingwires, said wires-terminating at one of their ends widely spaced tooverly related interposers, and being relatively narrow-spaced at theirother arcuate ends so that a sweep bail and selecting mechanism carriedthereby need only effect a very short arcuate movement to select punchselecting wires for projection.

Another object of the invention is to provide 'a punch setup unit in theform of a narrow unit carrying wires wherein projected ends of saidwires function as interposers between an interposer actuating bail andsaid inerposers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a restoring means forpositively restoring each actuated interposer and projectedpunch-interposer selecting wire.

Another object of the invention is to devise a punch setup unit and apunch unit each made up of light weight symmetrical components, easilyreplaceable for purposes of service and repair.

Another object of the invention is to devise a punch setup unitconsisting of a narrow strip co-extensive in width with the distancebetween index pointsof adjacent rows which carry in suitable guidechannels projectable punch selecting wires, and to devise the channelsso that at one end the wires converge, and diverge at the other end tocorrespond to the spacing of index point positions in a column of acard.

A still further object of the invention which may be regarded assolutions to the problem of high speed card punching operations is todevise an electromagnetic punch wire selecting and actuating device inthe form of an oscillatable sweep bail carrying a magnet-projected wireadapted by energization of said magnet to project a selected wire and awire in the setup unit, depending upon the time said magnet is operatedin the oscillating sweep of said bail.

A still further object is to provide a sweep bailcarrying an actuatingwire which is oscillatable about a pivot to cause said wire to follow acircular path above the arcuate ends of punch selecting wires, and toprovide a magnet operable by timed impulses for displacing said wire andthe selected punch selecting wire.

A still further object is to time the impulses so that deenergization ofthe magnet enables said actuating wire to he spring-returned to anon-extended position out of the way of the next punch selecting wire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sweep bail having aminimum of movement to present a wire to be extended past a series ofpunch selecting wires, and to provide a magnet to extend said wire.

A still further object principally'concerned with accomplishment of highoperational speeds is the provision of a modified form of sweep bailunit wherein said magnet does not displace the wire but conditionsoperating mechanism so that the latter actually displaces the wire.

A further object is to provide for a solenoid opera to a storagestation.

tion ofv each of the features regarded as objects of the invention, itis to be understand that each of said features -may be utilized alonewith the same advantages accuring from its novelty, and that theinvention is not limited to a cardpunching machine having all of theabove described features.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in -the accompanying drawings,which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention andthe best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings: Figs. 1 and 1a when arranged with Fig. l on top areviews taken on the line 1--1 of Fig. 3 and represent a longitudinalsectional view of the improved card punching machine.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. laand shows principally the cam operated operating means for the punchunit and the die unit. I

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1 and shows therelative transverse arrangement of- -the punch-interposer selectingstrips and the punch-interposer strips, as well as the generalarrangement of parts of the machine.

Fig. 4 ispa sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of i Fig. 1a showingthe construction of the die unit.

Fig. 5 is a timing diagram.

, Fig. 6 is a preferred form of punch interposer selector.

Record feeding devices Any suitable feeding devices of a type which willfeed 'the individual cards, records, etc. to the punching mechanism at arate equal to its high speed punching capacity may be utilized. Theleading edge of the card is received from such feeding devices by setsof frictionally driven feeding rollers 20 (Fig. 1a) which feed the cardbetween a stationary punch unit PU and a reciprocable die unit DU andagainst a spring-urged pivoted card stop 21 (see Fig. 3 also) whichaligns said card and 'holds it in punching position against the actionof skid rollers 147 (Figs. 2 and 4).

After the punching operation, which is effected in all columns and rowssimultaneously, the card stop 21 is elevated by energization of magnets12 (Figs. 1a and 3) so as to release the card for further feeding byskid rollers 1 57 (Figs. 2 and 4). The leading edge of the card nowenters the bite of feeding rollers 22 which convey the card to ananalyzing station, in the event that data on one card is to betransferred to a following card, or for checking purposes and as iscustomary, punched cards are then fed The gear drive for feeding rollers20, 22 and skid rollers 147 will be described later.

Punch 0r interposer selecting units The latter are mounted above thepunch units and select the interposers and therefore the associatedpunches to be operated and function during the time the card is beingfed to the punch and piror to theupward move- .ment of the punch die. orinterposer selecting devices are shown herein, each Two modifications ofthe punch a profile cam 33. Said cam first rocks bail in the arrowdirection upwardly to the right in synchronism with the sensing of theholes punched in the columns of the record in the order R, X, 0, 1, 2 9,and then reversely rocks the bail 30 downwardly. Slidable in a bracket34 carried by bail 30 is a sweep wire 35 having the upper end attachedto the related armature 36 of a magnet 37. The free end of the sweepwire 35 projects slightly beyond the cross portion of bail 30 which iscut away at 38 so that flat spring 39 urges the sweep wire 35 againstthe portion 40. Hence, the oscillatory movement of sweep bail 30 willcause the lower end of sweep wire 35 to follow a circular path above thearcuately arranged extremities 41 of interposer selecting wires 42.

The interposer selecting wires 42 consist of a group of twelve wiresfitting into grooves which guide the wires in their movement. Thegrooves are formed in wafer-like plates 43 and divergently space thelower ends to conform to the spacing of the interposers and converge thearcuate ends to a much closer spacing. There is one plate 43 for each ofthe eighty vertical card columns of the card and said plates 43 areassembled on rectangular support rods 44 (Figs. 3 and 6). Obviously,each plate 43 is the width of a card column, and the assembly of themmay be clamped together on rods 44 by any suitable means.

It is evident that sweep wire blade 35 partakes of the same oscillatorymovement as sweep bail 30 which is very short due to the close spacingof the ends 41. The armature 36 of magnet 37 is so pivoted that whenattracted by the energized magnet 37 the bent end to which sweep wireblade 35 is attached will be moved downwardly or displaced so as toextend wire blade 35 to contact the extremity 41 of an interposerselecting wire 42, depending on the time said magnet 37 is energized.Continued upward movement of the sweep bail 30 and blade 35 thendisplaces the related wire 42 it just engaged within the wafer plate,and being guided by its associated groove the lowermost end will beprojected downwardly to select a related interposer and punch in theassociated card column. The time of displacement of the sweep blade 35is controlled by the time (see Fig. 5) the impulse is transmitted to therelated magnet 37 and circuit breakers in the circuit thereof, both ofwhich limit the length of time the magnet 37 is energized. When magnet37 is deenergized a spring 47 will restore the armature 36, and sweepblade 35; thus its extremity will now be out of the 'path of the ends 41of the remaining unprojected interposer selecting wires 42. in bothmovements of bail 30.

It is intended that each sweep Wire 35 and armature 36 be restored bythe energy stored in spring 47 when it has been tensioned but it, ispreferred to do so by positive operated restoring means now to bedescribed so that sweep wire 35 will be out of the path of theunprojected ends 41 of wires 42, if it has failed to return to itsnormal position. To this end a rock shaft 50 has secured thereto aknockoff blade 51 which cooperates with armature portions 36, andsecured to said shaft 50 is a follower arm 52 operated by a cam 53,which has twelve lobes, one for each index point position of a cardcolumn. The follower arm 52 is actuated by a high point of a lobe of cam53 to release an armature 36 just prior to the time the magnet 37 may beenergized and if it was attracted,

- restoring blade 51 will be moved upwardly as follower described.

Punch unit The punch unit PU is characterized by a constructionespecially-'devisedfor simplification to reduce the cost of manufacture.The punch unit is made up of twelve rectangular Wafer strips (Fig. 3),one for each of the twelve rows,of index points, R, X, 0, l, 2, 3,4,6,6, 7, 8 and 9, and therefore each strip carries eighty interposers andpunches adapted to punch the same index point in ditterentcolumns. If sodesired the strip 60.1nay carry twelve punches and interposers and beparallel to strips 43. As is evident inFig. 3,.these. twelve strips areat right angles to the eighty strips 43. They are suitably held betweenside plates 61,;62 of a framework fastened by bolts 63 (Fig. la) to sideframe plates 119. Each wafer 60 is formed of a plastic or any suitablemoldable material and by a suitable molding operation is formed witheighty slots at right angles to thelength of the strip in which areassembled at the bottom the punches 65 and interposers-j66 above, eachof which overlies its respective punch 65. Oneside of each'striplengthwise is cut inwardly soas to receive a bail plate 59 .(Fig. 2)having three portions 67, 68, 69 (Figs. 1a and 2). Bail portion69engages slots in the punches and normallyholds up all .thepunches 65and interposers in a strip and after having gone down with the punchesrestores them asportion 69 goes up; bail portion 68 depresses aninterposer66 rocked to engage it, and its punch, and hail portion 67retains .and confines the interposers 66 in their slots, althoughportion 68 also does this to a certain extent.

.As will be seen in Fig. 1a, each interposer 66 tapers upwardly from.its midpoint to extend beyond the top of the related strip and its topis positioned just below the related ,end 54.0f wire .42, and to theright thereof (see Fig. 6). Each interposer '66 (Fig. la) also tapersdownwardly from its midpoint and is provided with a latch shoulder 70overlying the related punch 65, and normally out of engagement with thebail portion 68. The central part ofeach interposer 66 is widened so asto occupy not .quite thefull width of the slot to provide a loose pivot.forthe inter-poser 66 withoutthe use of pins,

studs, rods, or the like. While each wafer strip may all be formedofplastic it may have a strengthening backing plate 71 of metal andbonded thereto. The total width of each strip 60 and backing plate 71 isequivalent to the distance between rows of index points, thus properlypositioning the punches 65.

.Punch operation Afterthe end 54 (Fig. 6) of an interposer selectingwire 42 has been depressed to be on the left side of .the

upper end of the related interposer 66, setup bail plate 55 is cammed tothe right, pivoting the interposer 66 clockwise to placeits latchshoulder 70 beneath the punch bail portion 68.

-Bail plate55, as best shown in Fig. '3, is a single plate apertured toreceive all of the lower ends 54 of the inter- .poser selectingwires 42and is hung at one sideby springs 75 (Fig. 6) and is connectedat theother end to a pair of=arms v76 secured to a rock shaft 77, said shaft77 being actuated by a follower arm 78 secured to shaft 77 and actuatedby -a cam 79. rockedby cam 79 it shiftsbail plate 55 to the right andWhen cam follower arm 78 is thus all flexiblewire ends 54, and thosewhich have been lowered now rock their related interposers 66 before thepunch operation (see Fig. 5). The interposer setup plate t .5518restored by springs 75 under influence of cam 79.

:66 .andpunches-650f the associated strip 60 downward to punch .the cardand punch restoring bail portion 69 by a respective cam 105 (Fig. 1)..enable the free clockwise rocking of all interposers but movementtotheleft of said plate .100 restores counterrestgresthe-depressedpunches 65and interposers 66 (Fig. .la). The means forreciprocating the punchbail portions 67, 68, 69. of bailplates 59 willnow be described.

This reciprocation is effected by a pairyof punch cam bail followerslides 80 (Figs. 1a, 2 and 3), said slides having an elongated slot 81in which fits extensions 82 (see Fig. 2) ofreach of the punch bailplates 59. Each .ofslides 80 slidein slots 83 (Fig. 1a of the respectiveoperating means, as best shown in Fig. .2.

Each of the slides 80 has clearance slots (Figs. 1a and 2) topreventinterference with the shafts 19 and 18 which drive the sets offeeding rollers 20, 22, andalso a slot 91 (Fig. la) topreventinterference with shafts 146 which drive theskid rolls 1,47

Restoration of interposer selecting wires 42 The interposerselectingWires--t2 are preferably restored ,after thepunching operation (see Fig.5) by a series of wire restoring :bails 92 (Fig. 6) now to be described.A restoring bail 92 is provided 'for each series of punch ends 54 of allinterposer selecting wires 42 of the same index point. For example, theleft-hand bail. 92 cooperates with. the .ends 54 of all 12 or Rinterposer selecting wires .42, the next to the right with all X ones,etc. The twelve bails 92 are interfitted in slots .93 (Fig. 6) in a pairof side plates 94 having their ends guided in slots 95 formed instationary side frame plates 96. The upper ends of side plates 94 extendupwardly to form follower portions 97 cooperating with cams 98. Thesecams raise the slides 94 upwardly and all restoring bails 92 after thepunching operation. The projected end 54 of each latch control wire 54having previously been brought down over a respective bail 92, theelevation of the latter will positively restore each projected wire 42.

Restoration of rocked interposers 66 other end by a pair .of arms 102secured to a rock shaft l03 to which shaft 103a follower arm 104 isoperated The slots in plate clockwise all rocked-interposers .66 afterthe punching operation disengages their shoulders 70 from the relatedpunch bailportion 68.

Die unit Any suitable form of die unit may be provided and as hereinshown die unit DU consists of a rectangular die support (Fig. 4) havingfour sides, similar to a box with anopenbottom. Thedie holes for thepunches are providedby a'series of thin rectangular strips 111 andsomewhat thicker transversely arranged strips 112.

115 which project through four holes in the die plate 114,

each pairof levers being urged by a spring 116 (Fig. 1a)

interconnected between a pair of levers 115 so as tomaintain:thedie;plate 114 in tension and in the proper place. Thisarrangement enables quick replacement of-worn-out die plates 114.

' to the frames 120 by loosely fitting pins 124.

The die support 110 has ears 117 (Fig. 1a) provided with guide holesreceiving guide pins 118 secured to the side frame plates 119 whichcarry the stationary punch unit PU. These guide pins insure propermovement of the die unit DU relative to the punch unit PU.

Two sides of the die support 110 extend downwardly to provide two dieplate connecting plates 120 (Fig. 2). The slides for operating the dieunit consist of a pair of U-shaped frames 121, each of which carriesfollower rollers 122 cooperating with complementary cams 123 also drivenby shaft 88. The plates 120 are connected If a tight connection was madebetween these parts and a punched card did not feed out of the punch anddie units, forcing of the die unit DU upwardly to clamp the card inposition might, because of the extra card thickness, break parts. Forthis reason the plates 120 carry pre-stressed pins 130 which fit inrectangular slots 131 (Fig. 1a) in the side plates of frames 121. In thecondition mentioned the overload will be taken care of by flexing ofpins 130. Each of the frames 120 slides in blocks 132 carried by theside frames 84.

The cams 123 are designed so as to move die unit DU upwardly and havethe card to be punched clamped between the die unit DU and punch unit PUwhen the punch bail portion 68 is moved downwardly to depress theselected interposers and punches to effect the card punching operation(see Fig. After the card punching operation the die unit DU is thenlowered to free the card for feeding by skid rollers 147, the card gate21 having in the meantime been moved to-a non-card stopping position byenergization of magnet 12. The punched card is now ejected by feedrollers 22.

Driving mechanism The main drive shaft 88 is clutched into operation foreach cycle of card punching operation and from this shaft drive gearconnections are made to drive other parts of the machine. A gear 135 onthe end of shaft 88 (Fig. 2) drives through an idler gear 136 a gear 137(Figs. la and 2). Said gear 137 (Fig. 1) meshes with gears 138 and 139secured to respective cam shafts 140 and 141. Only the pitch lines areshown in Figs. 1, 1a and 2, while some of the gears are shown in Fig. 3.The drive shafts 19 of feed rollers 20 are inter-geared by gears 143(Fig. 1a) and drive shafts 18 of feed rollers 22 are inter-geared bygears 144. The ends of each of the lower shafts 18 and 1.9 carry gears145 (Fig. 3) meshing with a smaller gear 149 (Fig. la) rotatable withgear 136. Gear 151 (Fig. 3) secured to the lower feed roller drivingshaft 19 meshes with an idler gear 142 which meshes with a gear 148secured to a shaft 146 which carries the skid or frictional driverollers 147. The arrangement is duplicated so as to drive the two shafts146 (Fig. 4) carrying the skid rollers 147.

Chip chute Chips which pass or fall through the die openings are removedfrom the die by a high velocity air stream which pulls the chips throughthe air chute 150 (Fig. 2) to a chip box external to the die unit. Theair stream is supplied by a vacuum type fan which draws air through thedie openings into the attached chip chute.

Modification of punch selecting unit Figs. 1 and 6 and differs only inthe means employed for projecting wires 42.

For operating speeds from 4004,000 punched cards V 8 per minute thesolenoid operated setup means shown in Fig. 1 is used. A short pickupand dropout time as well as a large clutching force to shift aninterposer selecting wire 42 from a small initial force are advantagesof this form of unit.

The principal differences between the setup unit of Fig. 6 and Fig. 1 isthe provision in the latter of a solenoid 170 which replaces the magnet37 of Fig. 6, and the use of a flat steel tape to transmit and magnifythe small force exerted by the solenoid coil.

The sweep arm 30 in Fig. 1 is caused to move in an oscillating are bythe same means as in Fig. 6 and guides sweep bail 152, causing it topivot at 153 on a plate 154 as bail 152 is elevated. The sweep bail 152is reciprocated vertically by means of a steel tape 155 which is a flatblade .040 wide by .005 thickness, suspended by a spring 156 on abracket 157 of a reciprocable plate 158. The combinational arcuate andvertical movement of the sweep bail 152 by the sweep arm 30 and tape 155gives the sweep bail 152 the required pivotal and reciprocal movement toproject an interposer latch control wire 42.

The tape 155 is suspended between the plate 154 which is guided in abracket extension 169 of plate 158 and a plate 159 guided in a plate 160secured to the bracket 157, and being carried by plate 158 partakes of areciprocating movement given to the plate 158 by means now to bedescribed.

Plate 158 carries rollers 161 rolling between spaced tracks 162, 163 andsupplemental rollers 164 also rolling between a pair of tracks 163, onlyone being shown in Fig. 1. Loosely pivoted on the rock shaft 165 towhich sweep arm 30 is connected is a double follower arm 166 carrying aroller cooperating with a cam 167 secured to shaft 141 and having itsfree arm underlying a roller 168 carried by plate 158.

Sweep arm 30 and double arm 166 operate synchronously so that sweep bail152 passes in front of each of the extremities 41 of interposerselecting wires 42, and successively as the index points of the punchedcard are analyzed, and contemporaneous with the energization of acontrol solenoid 170.

The purpose of solenoid 170 is to stop temporarily the elevation of thetape 155 while permitting a slight elevation of the plate 158 and in sodoing extend the spring 156. This slight elevation of tape 155 causessweep bail to pivot about pin 153 as sweep bail 152 rocks about shaft166 and this combined movement causes the sweep bail 152 to be shiftedto displace a selected interposer selecting Wire 42. e

To stop the tape 155 there is provided a stationary shoe block 171 and amovable clamp block 172 between which tape 155 passes and reciprocatesfreely. A wedgeshaped interposer 173 pivoting on a pin 175'acts on aslidable clamp rod 176 and said interposer 173 is connected to thesolenoid core 176.

When solenoid 170 is energized it attracts its core 176, rockinginterposer 173 counterclockwise about pivot pin 175 and against theaction of a spring 177 to shift clamp rod 176 to the right and clampshoe 172 in the same direction, thus clamping tape 155 against shoeblock 171, thus stopping elevation of tape 155. As previously described, this causes an extension of thesweep bail 152 to displace aselected wire 42.

The solenoid 170 is energized for a very short time, like magnet 37(Fig. 6) and the sweep bail 152 will be displaced from its normal sweeppath just long enough to displace the wire 42 and still be able torestore it to a position which will allow the next and successive wires42 to be passed by. As soon as the solenoid 170 is deenergized, spring156 withdraws the sweep bail 152, using the energy stored in the springto accelerate the sweep bail 152 to the velocity of drive plate 158.

An added feature of the construction of the Fig. 1 arrangement is anautomatic compensation for wear. The

to continuously maintain thelproper space between the shoe block 171 andclamp shoe 172.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out thefundamental novel features of the invention, it will be understood thatvarious ornissipns and substitutions and changes in,theform and detailsof the device illustrated and initsoperationmay be made by those skilledin theart, without ,departingfrom the spirit of the invention. It isthedntention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated bythe scope ofthe following claims.

What is claimedis:

1. In a machine for punching a plurality of rows of record material, adie, a row of punches, a punch plate, an interposer for eachpunchmovable from an inactive to an active position to engage said punchplate, a plurality of interposer operating wires, one for eachinterposer and actuable for moving an interposer to said activeposition, a support plate equivalent in thickness to the spacing ofsuccessive rows oftrecord material and having guide channels for saidWires, said guide channels divergently spacingone of the ends ofsaidwires over said interposers and for converging the other ends ofsaid wires to a much closer spacing, an actuatingmeans for said wires, abail adapted to sweep said means over the converging ends of said wires,electrical means energizable by timed impulses, means controlled by saidelectrical means when energized for causing the operation of saidactuating means to actuate a selected interposer opoperate theassociated punch.

2. In a machine for punching a row of record material, a die, a row ofpunches, a punch plate, an interposer for each punch overlying theassociated punch and movable to engage said punch plate, a plurality ofwires, one for each interposer and actuable for causing the movement ofan interposed to engage said punch plate, an operating plate for saidwires, means for guiding and divergently spacing one of the ends of saidwires over said interposers and to engage said operating plate and forconverging the other ends of said wires to a much closer spacing, anactuating means for said wires, a bail adapted to sweep said actuatingmeans over the converging ends of said wires, an electromagnetenergizable by timed impulses for operating said actuating means toactuate a selected interposer operating wire, means for moving theoperating plate to shift all of said one ends of said wires to cause theactuated wire to move a related interposer to engage the punch plate,means for operating said punch plate to cause the interposer which wasmoved to engage the punch plate to operate the associated punch, andseparate means for positively restoring the actuated wire and theoperated punch and associated interposer.

3. In a machine for punching a plurality of rows of record material, adie, a row of punches, a punch plate, an interposer for each punchmovable from an inactive to an active position to engage said punchplate, a plurality of interposer operating wires, one for eachinterposer and actuable for moving an interposer to said activeposition, a support plate equivalent in thickness to the spacing ofsuccessive rows of record material and having guide channels for saidwires, said guide channels divergently spacing one of the ends of saidwires over said interposer-s and for converging the other ends of saidwires to a much closer spacing, an actuating means for said wires, abail adapted to sweep said means over the converging ends of said wires,an electromagnet energizableby tirned impulses for -operating saidactuating means when energized to actuatea selected interposer operatingwire, and means tor operating said punch plate to cause theinterposermoved in active position to operate the associatedtpune'h.

4. 'In a machine for punching .a row of record m-aiterial a row ofpunches, an interposer for each punch movable from an inactive ,toanactive position toselect a punch for operation, a plurality ofinterposer operating wires, one for each interposer and .actuable formoving an interposer to, said active positiommeans for guiding anddivergently spacing one ofthe ,ends of said wires over said interposers.and ,for convergingthewother ends of said wires to ,a muchcloserspacing, means for actuat- 1ing sa-id wires, means tosweeplsai-dactua-ting meansover the converging ends of said wires, andelectromagnetic means operative by tirn'ed impulses for causing saidactuating means to actuate aselected interposer operating wire to causethe latterj to move the related interposer to an active positiontoselect theassoeiated punch.

5. ;In a machine for punching a plurality of rows of record material,aidie, a row of punches, a punch plate, an interposer for each punchmovable froman inactive to an active position to engage said punchplate, a plurality of interposer operating wires, one for ,each ,interposer and each actuable to engage an associated interposer, a supportplate equivalent in thickness to the spacing of successive rows ofrecord material and having guide channels ,for said Wires, said guidechannels diver-gently spacing one of the ends of said wires adjacentsaid interposers for engagement therewith when projected and forgonvepging the other ends of said wires t m h clcsc s a "Is an ctua n mn for s i i es a b i a a t d WQQPfl-i ac a me over the converging endsof said" wires, an electromagnet enisr v zt b by imed impul e ,f ope h nv n rgized id e fiuaw mean actuate e e t d inte poser operating wire toengage an associated interposer, means for moving said one ends of saidwires to cause the actuated interposer ope-rating wire to move therelated interposer to an active position engaging said punch plate, andmeans for operating said punch plate to cause the interposer moved inactive position to operate the associated punch.

6. In a machine for punching a plurality of rows of recordmaterial, adie, a row of punches, a punch plate, an interposer for each punchmovable from an inactive to an active position to engage said punchplate, a plurality of interposer selecting wires, one for eachinterposer and setta-ble to a position for moving an inter-poser to saidactive position, means for divergently spacing one of the ends of saidwires for operative association with said interposer-s and forconverging the other ends of said wires to a much closer spacing, anactuating means for said wires, a bail adapted to sweep said means overthe converging ends of said wires, an electromagnet energizable by timedimpulses for operating when energized said actuating means to actuate aselected interposer selecting wire, means engaging said one ends of allinterposer selecting wires to shift said ends to cause the interposerselecting wire set to said position to move the associated interposer toactive position to engage said punch plate, and means for operating saidpunch plate to cause the interposer moved in active position to operatethe associated punch.

7. In a machine for punching a row of record material, a row of punches,an interposer for each punch movable to an active position to select apunch, a plurality of interposer selecting wires each adapted to beactuated to select a related interposer, one of the ends or said wiresconverging to a narrow arcuate spacing, means to actuate a selectedwire, means for sweeping said means in an arcuate path successively oversaid arcuate ends of the wires, other means movable in a timedrelationship with said sweeping means engaging said actuating v 11 Vmeans for causing when arrested a movement resulting from the arrestingof said other means and said arcuate movement which efieots theoperation of said actuating means to actuate an interposer wire, andelectromagnetic means energizable by timed impulses to efiect thearresting of said other means.

8. A punch mechanism comprising for each row of punches a strip having aseries of channels therein and open at one side, a punch at the bottomof each channel, a punch plate co-extensive with the length of saidstrip and at said one side for partly closing the open sides of saidchannels for operating selected punches, and an interposer in eachchannel overlying the associated punch and having a portion arranged tobe shifted out of its channel to be interposed between said punch plateand the related punch.

9. A punch mechanism for record material comprising for each row ofpunches a strip having a series of channels therein at right angles toits length and open at one side, a punch at the bottom of each channel,a punch plate for operating selected punches co-extensive with thelength of said strip and at said open side for partly closing the opensides of said channels, an interposer in each channel overlying theassociated punch and arranged to be shifted out of its channel to beinterposed between said punch plate and the related punch, a metalbacking plate attached to the closed side of said strip, said stripbeing recessed at the open side, whereby the combined width of the punchplate, strip and backing plate does not exceed the spacing betweensuccessive rows of the record material.

10. A punch mechanism comprising for each row of punches a strip ofmoldable material having a series of channels molded therein and open atone side, a punch at the bottom of each channel, a punch plateco-extensive with the length of said strip having three portions at theopen side of the strip, one portion partly closing said channels toconfine the punches in the channels, and an 12 interposer in eachchannel overlying the associated punch and having a projection to beshifted in the channel to underlie a second portion of said punch plate,each of said punches having a projection overlying the third portion ofsaid punch plate for positively restoring depressed v punches.

11. A selector for a plurality of punch interposers for "punches spacedto conform to the punch spacing comprising a plurality of interposerselecting wires, a strip of material having guide means for said wires,said guide means at one side of said strip spacing the wires to conformto the spacing of the interposers to overlie said interposers, andconverging the other ends of said wires at another side of said striparcuately and to a relatively much narrower spacing, means for actuatingsaid wires, means to sweep said actuating means over the convergingarcuately arranged ends of said wires, and electromagnetinterposers tooverlie the interposers, and converging the other ends of the wires toterminate in an arcuate line at another side of said strip to arelatively much narrower spacing, means for actuating said wires, meansto sweep said actuating means over the converging arcuately arrangedends of said wires, and electromagnetic means operative by timedimpulses for causing said actuating means to actuate a selected wire toselect a related interposer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,078,470 Thomas Apr. 27, 1937

